The 2010 Philippines National Elections on May 10, 2010 will have its counting automated. Part of automating the counting is a need to change the ballot that will be used by voters. Originally, Filipino voters write the names of the candidate that they wish to vote. In the new ballot, the names of the candidates are already printed on the ballot. Voters just need to shade the oval on the side of the candidates name. A Precint Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine will be used to scan the ballot and count the votes for each candidate.

It is only a few days left before the very first automatedelections in the Philippines is implemented. The very first automated elections will be held at the May 10, 2010 Presidential Elections. In this elections, a machine called PrecintCountOpticalScan (PCOS) will be used to count the votes of each candidate. Only the counting of the votes is automated in this election. The ballot to be used and the way of voting was changed, but it will still be done manually.

One of the most common problems that Filipino voters encounter on the day of election is getting lost in the polling place. Most voters either forget their precint number or they don’t have their voter’s ID with them. To assist Filipino voters, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) provided an online tool wherein voters can verify the existing voting precint where a specific voter is listed or registered.

In relation to the Maguindanao Massacre, the rebellion case against former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. has been dismissed.

Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Vivencio Baclig dismissed the rebellion case against Andal Ampatuan Sr. for lack of probable cause. Baclig has also issued a release order for the elder Ampatuan. However, Ampatuan Sr. still remains under state custody because he still faces multiple murder charges in connection with the Maguindanao massacre last year where 57 people were killed, including 30 media men, lawyers, and members of rival political Mangudadatu clan.